And henry h



No. 620,887. Patented'Mar. I4, |899.

H. J. CLARK;

l 0XIDIZING FURNAE.v

(Application led Mar. 12, 1898.)

(No Modal.) 2 sheetsheet 2;

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEiCE.

HORACE J. CLARK, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO ELLA U. CLARK, OF SAME PLACE, CLINTON D. BOUTON, OF

ITHACA, NEW YORK, AND HENRY H. GREEN, OF SUNSHINE, COLORADO.

FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,887, dated March 14, 1899.

Application filed Marcil 12, 1898.'

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, HORACE J. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe, State of Colorado, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Oxidizing-Furnaces, of which the following is a specification, refer ence being had the-rein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an oxidizing-f urnace for the purpose of drying, roasting, and desulfurizing ores of various characters.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved construction of oxidizing-flue by r 5 which the ore will be gradually fed from oneL end of the same to the other.

It has for a further obj ect to provide means by which the ore may be oxidized either by radiated heat or by the direct application of zo the products of combustion to the ore. Provision is also made by means of which the ore may be dried preparatory to the oxidizing operation.

Other objects and advantages secured by reason of the improved details of construction will be set forth in thefollowing specification and clearly defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail horizontal section of the oxidizing-Hue and retardingplates. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of lthe discharge connection for'the oxidizing-flue, and Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a modified form of the oxidizing-flue. 'Y

Like letters of reference indicate like part throughout the several figures of the drawings. v

This invention consists, essentially, of an oscillating oxidizing-flue A, which may be suitably inclined, as shown in Fig. l, and supported in any suitable manner-for instance, upon a horizontal beam A, from which extend at opposite sides arms A2. These arms are provided at their ends with rollers A3, seated in suitable bearings A4,

formed in the forked ends of the arms. The

Serial No. 673,654. (No model.)

oxidizing-flue is composed of a casing formed 5o in a series of sections ct, which are lined with lire-brick a or other suitable refractory material, the said casing A being composed of two parts joined together upon a horizontal line at opposite sides, as shown at a2. The abutting ends of the sections of casing a are provided with flanges a3, by means of which they may be joined together to form the complete iiue and to support in position the refractory lining a.

Any suitable means may be used for oscillating the flue; but I have illustrated in this application a segmental peripheral gear B, located upon the flueAand engaging with a segmental gear B', suitably supported adjacent to 65 said gear B. The gear B is provided with an extending arm B2, which is slotted and eccentricall y connected by a bolt B3 with a rotating disk B4,1nounted upon a support B5 and driven by any suitable power. The movement of the 7o arm B2 imparted by the disk B4 causes the segmental gear B to engage the gear B, and thus swing or -oscillate the flue A. The opposite ends of the iiue are provided, respectively, with any suitable form of lire-box and smokestack, instances of which are illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein a fire-box C is provided having an inner side wall C, between which and the outer wall an air-chamber is formed. The blast of air necessary to develop the desired 8o heat in the ue is introduced through the pipe C2 into the air-space between the walls and becomes highly heated before it is admitted into the lire-box at the apertures C3 below the grate C4. the fire-box is provided with suitably-curved supports C5, which permit the tilting of the same at any desired angle to effect the inclination of the flue. The supporting-beam A is rigidly bolted tothe tire-box, as at a4, and 9o the lue A is connnected to the fire-box by means of a fiange c, which overlaps a flange a5, formed on one of the sections a of the fluecasing. An oscillation of the ue is thus permitted, while the flange prevents any longi- 95 tudinal movement of the parts in relation to each other.

The opposite end of the flue A is connected The under surface of to the smoke-box D and smoke-stack D by a flange d, similar to the flange c, overlapping the flange a3 of one of the sections a. The smoke-stack is provided with a telescoping section D2, withinwhich the section D will move, and the smoke-box at its lower portion is formed with a bearing D3, to which the beam A is secured by means of bolts a4, about which bearing the segmental gear B is journaled. The bearing D3 is provided with a seat d', in which rests the pivotal point of an adj listing-screw D, which screw at its lower end is suitably threaded into a base D5 and is provided with an operating-nut d2. It will be obvious that an operation of this nut Will adjust the end of the due and the parts carried thereby in a vertical plane, as the firebox will rock upon the curved support C, and the desired inclination to the flue can thus be obtained for any particular character of work to be performed. The material to be fed to the oxidizing-fine may be introduced through the feed-chute E, passing through the smokebox and having atits outer end a hopper E. This chute is provided with any suitable form of conveyor-for instance, a screw conveyor E2, driven by a pulley E3 at the outer end of the shaft E4, upon which the conveyer is carried. Y The location of the feed-chute in the smoke-box serves to maintain the same in a heated condition, and thus remove from the material any slight moisture which may be contained therein.

For the purpose of adapting the oxidizingiue for the treatment of ore by the closedmuffle or radiated-heat processes or whendesired by the open-hearth the hereinafterdescribed construction of parts is provided. To accomplish these functions, the flue is divided into a series of independent passages, comprising a central passage F, having a passage F above the same and a passage` F2 below. These passages are formed by horizontal plates f, of anysuitable refractory material, held in relative position by the refractory lining-blocks f at opposite sides. These passages may be provided with retarding-plates of any suitable constructionfor instance, the plates G, shown as applied in the central passage F and which are held in position by lugs G', formed on the plates and seated in suitable apertures formed in the horizontal plates f. These plates are of suitable refractory material and extend alternately from opposite sides of the passage F, the ends thereof slightly overlapping, so as to prevent a direct channel at any time through the passage. The function of the plates is to retard the ores passage through the flue, as in the oscillation of the flue the ore will be thrown to the lowest side of the same, and owing to the inclination of the flue will move forward into contact with the next succeeding plate. Upon the oscillation of the fiue in the opposite direction the same action occurs, so that the ore is gradually fed downward from side to side and gradually progressing, whereby the particlesl are stirred and agitated, so that the heat Will act upon all surfaces thereof and the ore be retained in the passage of the liuc for the proper predetermined length of time for eifecting the desulfurizing or roasting of the ore. During such action the sulfur-fumes will be carried by the draft and discharged into the smoke-stack through the apertures e,provided in the feeding-chute E, which communicates with this central passage F.

After passing from the passage F the ore is conveyed through a discharge-pi pe H,which passes through the fire-box and is secured to the iiue A, as at I-I, so as to be carried thereby in the oscillation of the flue. This pipe at the end H is formed rectangular in shape to conform to the configuration of the passage F and at its outer end H2 is formed circular, so as todischarge into a down-chuteI, The end H2 of this pipe is covered by a cap I', which is closed, except a small aperture I2. This closing-cap is used to prevent the contact of cold air with the ol'e in the passage, as the contact with such air would exert a cooling influence upon the liberated sulfur-fumes, causing the same to condense and fall back among the ore, thereby defeating the successful opera-v tion of the invention. The aperture l2 is only of sufficient size to admit the necessary amount of air to accomplish the oxidizing operation, The pipe H is provided with an aperture hin-its upper surface, which is closed by a movable cover h, operated by any suitable connection extending through the walls of the fire-box and is for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Fig. 5 illustrates a detail of a modified form of the oxidizing-flue and also a foi-1n of plug or stopper J, several of which are provided and formed to close the end of any one or more of the passages in the flue at their juncture with the fire-box. This ligure also shows a form of ore-discharge K, located at one side of the flue A and communicating with the passage F. Vhen this is used, the pipe ll` can be dispensed with and the ore discharged without passing through the fire-box. It is, however, preferable to pass the ore through the discharge-pipe H in the fire-boX, as by this means the ore is subjected to the mostintense heat at the proper time to .effect the completion of the oxidizing operation and prevent the condensation of any of the sulfur-gases which may have been freed during the roasting operation. When the discharge K is used, the central plug or stopper .l will be inserted, and either one or both of the segmental stoppers J may be removed to permit the products of combustion to pass through the upper and lower passages in the Hue.

In the usual process of desulfurizingore the same is fed in a granulated or reduced condition into the hopper E and fed by the conveyer into the inclined oscillating fine, the ore passing through the passage F and being thereby retarded in its feed, while the prod- ICO IIO

IIS

ucts of combustion pass through the upper and lower passages F and F2, so as to thoroughly heat the central passage F by radiation, and thereby accomplish the desulfurizing of the ore without the contact of the same with the products of combustion. The ore is most highly heated as it is discharged from the passage F and into the discharge-pipe I-I, passing through the re-box. The speed of oscillation can be varied for timing the roasting operation to adapt the same for differentclasses of ore, and the same result can be obtained by an adjustment of the inclination of the iiue. If the ore is to be discharged at the side of the flue, the plug J will be inserted in the end of the passage F, while the preceding steps of the operation will remain the same. In the event that it is desirable to permit the passage of theproducts of combustion directly into contact With the ore, as in the case of an open-hearth furnace, the door 7L will be opened, permitting the entrance of the products of combustion into the passage F and also above and below the same. formed with a moderate degree of heat when it is desired to utilize the furnace as a drier for drying the ore preparatory to the roasting operation. In the treatment of certain classes of ore the drying operation may be performed simultaneously with the roasting or oxidizing operation, and to adapt the flue for this purpose a hopper L may be applied at the smoke-box end thereof, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. Under this condition a discharge-opening L will be provided at the fire-box end of the passage F and the plug J used to close this passage. It may be stated, however, that it is unnecessary to completely close the end of this passage, and the proper operation may be performed by a plate of sufficient height to prevent the ore from rolling into the fire-box. When the iiue is constructed in this manner, the ore to be dried will be fed into the passage F through the hopper L and dried during its gradual move` ment theret-hrough,while the ore to be roasted will pass through the passage F. The necessary heat for the operation may be secured by the products of combustion passing through the flue F2 and also, if desired, through the passage F.

The invention has been particularly described and is intended primarily for the roasting and treatment by heat of ores; but it is obvious that the same may be adapted for roasting or drying other materials and that by the arrangement of flues hereinbefore de scribed the products of combustion may be passed through any one of the passages illustrated or excluded from any of the-same, as may be found desirable in different classes of work. The invention is not limited to a flue having three passages, as illustrated, but v This same operation would be per-v changes may be made in the details of conand retarding devices extending transversely from opposite sides and partially across said flue; substantially as specified.

3. In an oxidizing-furnace, an inclined oxidizing-iiue, means lfor oscillating the same, and retarding-plates extending alternately from opposite sides of said flue substantially as specified. v

4. In anoxidizing-furnace,thecombination with a furnace, of a stack, an oxidizing-flue extending between said furnace and stack,

retarding `devices extending alternately from opposite sides of said flue and means for os- ...cillatin g said flue substantially as specified.

5. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination With a furnace, of a stack, an oxidizing-flue extending between said furnace and stack, retarding devices extending alternately from opposite sides of said flue, means for oscillating said flue, and means for supporting said iiue in an inclined position; substantially as specified.

6. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with a furnace, of a stack, an oxidizing-flue extending between said furnace and stack, retarding devices extending alternately from opposite sides of said flue, means for oscillating said flue, and means for vertically adjusting one end of said flue; substantiallyas specied.

7. In an oxidizing-furnace, a flue provided With transverse longitudinal partitions to divide the same into independent passages, and retarding devices extending transversely from opposite sides and partially across said flue; substantially as specied.

8. In an oxidizing-furnace, a iiue provided with transverse longitudinal partitions to divide the same into independent passages, one of said passages being providedwith retarding-plates extending alternately from opposite sides thereof; substantially as specified.

9. In anoxidiZing-furnace', a flue provided with transverse' longitudinal partitions to divide the same into independent passages, one of said passages being provided with retarding-plates extending alternately from opposite sides thereof; substantially as specified.

IO. In an oxidizing-furnace, 'the combination with a furnace, of an oxidizing-flue, and retarding devices extending transversely from opposite sides and partially across said IOO lIO

i sedes? iiue,means for supporting said flue, and means for oscillating said flue; substantially as specified.

11. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with a furnace, of an oxidizing-Hue, and retarding devices extending transverselyfrom opposite sides and partially across said iiue, means for supporting said flue, a peripheral gear provided upon said iiue, and means for engaging said gear to oscillate the flue; substantially as specified.

12. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with a furnace, of an oxidizing-Hue, and retarding devices extending transversely from opposite sides and partially across said iiue, means for supporting said iiue, means for oscillating said flue, and a feed device for introducing material into said flue; substantially as specified.

13. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combinafion with a fire-box, of a fiue connected there- 4 to, an ore-passage extending from said flue and through said lire-box, and retarding devices extending from opposite sides and partially across said flue; substantially as specified.

14. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with a fire-box, of a flue connected thereto, an ore-passage extending from said liue and through said fire-box, and retarding devices extending from opposite sides and partially across said iiue, and means for oscillating said iiue and ore-passage; substantially as specified.

15. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with a iire-box, of a flue connected thereto, an ore-passage extending from said flue and through said lire-box, means for oscillating said iiue and ore-passage, and an aperture and closure for admitting the products of combustion to said ore-passage; substantiallyl as specified.

1G. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with an oxidizing-due and means for oscillating the same, of retarding devices extending transversely from opposite sides and partially across said flue, a fire-box provided with air-inlets below the grate thereof, and means'for supplying a forced draft to said air-inlets; substantially as specified.

17. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with an oxidizing-line and means for oscillating the same, of retarding devices extending transversely from opposite sides and partially across said flue, a double-walled fire-box provided with an air-inlet below the grate, and means for introducing air into the space between said walls; substantially as specified.

18. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with an oxidizing-flue and means for oscillating the same, of retarding devices extending transversely from opposite sides and partially across said flue, a double-walled fire-box provided with an air-inlet below the grate, and an air-inlet located at the upper portion of said fire-box between said Walls; substantially as specified.

19. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with an oxidizing-due composed of a series of passages, of ua fire-box adjacent thereto, and removable plugs adapted to close one or more of said passages at the end thereof adjacent to the fire box; substantially as specified.

20. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with an oxidizing-flue, means for oscillating the same, and retarding devices extendL ing transversely from opposite sides and partially across said iiue, of a fire-box and smokebox at opposite ends thereof, a supportingbeam connected to said fire and smoke boxes, and means upon said beam for supporting said flue; substantially as specified.

21. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with an oxidizing-fine, means for oscillating the same, and retarding devices extending transversely from opposite sides and partially across said fiu`e,`of a fire-box and smokebox at opposite ends thereof, a supportingbeam connected to said fire and smoke boxes, means upon said beam for supporting said flue, and rotatable bearings for said iiue; substantially as specified.

22. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with an oxidizing-nue, means for oscillating the same, and retarding devices extending transversely from opposite sides and partially across said ilue, of a fire-box and smokebox at opposite ends thereof, a supportingbeam connected to said fire and smoke boxes, lateral su pportin g-arms carried by said beam, and rotatable bearings at the ends of said arms; substantially as specified.

23. In an oxidizing-furnace, an oxidizingflue provided with an ore-'roasting passage and with an ore-drying passage, means for introducing and removing ore from said dryin g-passage and independent feeding and delivery devices for said ore-roasting passage; substantially as specified.

24. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with an oxidizing-flue, of a smoke-box provided at its under surface with a bearing, means for oscillating said iiue independently of the smoke-box, and retarding devices extending transversely from opposite sides and partially across said liue and means for vertically adjusting said smoke-box; substantially as specified.

25. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with an oxidizing-flue, of a smoke-box provided at its under surface with a bearing, means for oscillating said ue independently of the smoke-box, and retarding devices extending transversely from opposite sides and partially across said flue and a screw for vertically adjusting said smoke-box; substantially as specified.

26. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with an oxidizing-liuc, of a smoke-box provided with a feeding -chute extending IOO IIO

therethrough, means for oscillating said flue independently of the smoke-box, and retarding devices extending transversely from opposite sides and partially across said iiue; substantially as specified.

27. -In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination With an oxidizing-flue, of a smoke-box provided With a feedingchute extending therethrough, means for oscillating said ilue independently of the smoke-box, and retarding devices extending transversely from op- .posite sides and partially across said flue and a conveyer located Within said chute; substantially as specified.

28. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination With an oxidizing-flue, of a smoke-box.

provided with a smoke-stack carried thereby, means for oscillating said i'lue independently of the smoke-box, an adjusting device beneath said box to vertically adjust the same and a vtelescoping section for said smokestack; substantially as speciiied.

29. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with an oscillating oxidizing-flue provided With retarding devices vextendin g transversely from opposite sides and partially across the same, of a peripheral gear provided thereon, a segmental gear meshing therewith, and means for partially rotating said segmental gear in opposite directions; substantially as specied.

30. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with an oxidizing-flue provided with retarding devices extending transversely from opposite sides and partially across the same, of a lire-box, a discharge-pipe carried by said flue and extending through said tire-box substantially as speciiied.

31. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with an oxidizing-flue provided with retarding` devices extending transversely from v opposite sides and means for .operating the same, of a iire-box, a' discharge-pipe carried by said flue and extending through said rcbox, and a stationary cap provided with an air-inlet and surrounding the outer end of said flue to discharge material into a chute; substantially as speciiied.

32. In an oxidizing-furnace, the combination with an oxidizing-flue, of a fire-box, a discharge-pipe extending through the same and provided with an opening communicating with the fire-box, and means for closing said opening; substantially as specified.

33. In an oxidizing-furnace, an oxidizing- Hue provided With horizontal partitions, and` retarding-plates provided With projections adapted to seat in said partitions; substantially as specified.

34. In an 'oxidizing-furnace, an oxidizingiiue provided with a refractory lining, horizontal partitions extending across said flue and retarding-plates cut away at their upper portions and extending from vopposite sides of said flue; substantially as specified.

35. In a longitudinally oxidizing-furnace, an inclined quadrilateral oxidizing-flue and means for oscillating the same transversely; substantially as speciiied.

36. In a longitudinally oxidizing-furnace, an inclined quadrilateral oxidizing-fine, the opposite Walls of which are parallel, and means for oscillating the same transversely; substantially as specied.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HORACE J. CLARK. Witnesses:

E. B. STOCKING, 'ALFRED T. GAGE. 

